Goat Cheese Recalled Due to Listeria Positive Sample

 A small Pennsylvania goat cheese manufacturer is recalling goal cheese products after PA Dept of Ag tested and found Listeria in the product.   No illnesses have been reported.


FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm521592.htm
Apple Tree Goat Dairy Recalls Four Goat Cheeses Because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
September 20, 2016

Eggo Waffles Recalled for Potential Listeria Contamination

Kellogg's is recalling Eggo Waffles after internal testing found a potential for Listeria contamination. While the release did not say exactly where the sample was located, it may have been a positive environmental sample on or near a product contact surface.
FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm521434.htm
Kellogg Company Recalls Limited Number of Kellogg’s® Eggo® Nutri-Grain® Whole Wheat Waffles Due to Potential Health Risk
For Immediate Release
September 19, 2016

First Day of Preventive Controls Compliance - What Do You Need to Know

September 19, 2016 marks the compliance day when larger facilities making human food must meet preventive controls and Current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements (CGMPs) and larger animal food facilities must meet CGMPs.

So what should one expect?  FDA issued two letters today.  To summarize from the many words in those documents:

At this point, the FDA is still learning so "the FDA’s primary focus will continue to be on education, training and technical assistance to help companies comply with the new requirements." 

Does your Food Safety Plan have to be perfect at this point - "Many businesses of that size already have a HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) program; we don’t expect them to need to make many changes to come into compliance. Aspects of the CGMP and preventive controls rules are similar to HACCP, a food safety system that started with industry."

 But FDA will still evaluate the facility in order to make safe products. "The best thing that people in the food industry can do is take the measures required by the new rules – not just the letter of the law but what it represents in terms of transforming the food safety system. They should look at the big picture, at areas in which they could be vulnerable and proactively take action. Promptly responding to problems, even if they aren’t yet violations, can prevent them from getting to the point at which there is a concern about the safety of the food."
 
"In addition, facilities should set up a thorough system for documenting what they do."

FDA is still learning as well.


FDA News Release
http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ucm521171.htm
What to Expect Now that the First Big FSMA Compliance Dates Are Here
Questions and Answers with Joann Givens

Backyard Chickens and Eggs - Beware of the Salmonella Risk

In two news stories this week - one on raising chickens at home and the other on eggs from small chicken flocks - there is discussion on the higher risk for Salmonella.

In the Post article, people raising chickens at home threat the chickens more like pets.  Many people will cuddle or kiss baby chicks and nearly half of the patients who contracted Salmonella from the chickens allowed the chickens into the house (and some into the bedroom).

Penn State conducted a large survey looking at the prevalence in Salmonella in eggs which were purchased from farm stands across the state.  These eggs were from small chicken flocks and fall outside of regulations for controlling Salmonella.  The survey found that 2% of the eggs tested were positive for Salmonella.  The contamination was primarily found inside the egg.  For commercial egg producers, this number is less than 0.5%.

Salmonella is a natural contaminate of chickens, and unless carefully controlled, it can be passed to humans through handling of the chickens or through mishandling or undercooking of the eggs.   Commercially, Salmonella is controlled through diet (including probiotics), house maintenance procedures, and Salmonella testing.  With backyard flocks, these controls are normally not in place.  Another risk, not discussed in these articles, is Campylobacter.  This has been shown to have a higher prevalence in small flocks as well.

This is not saying that people should not raise chickens or consume their eggs, but people have to be aware of the risk.  Keep chicken in the coup.  Wash your hands after handling the chicken.  Cook the eggs and the chicken to the proper temperature.  No Rocky breakfast drink with these eggs, not unless you plan your next bout at the American Standard Bowl.

Penn State News
http://news.psu.edu/story/425880/2016/09/14/research/eggs-small-flocks-just-likely-contain-salmonella-enteritidis
Eggs from small flocks more likely to contain Salmonella enteritidis
By Jeff Mulhollem
September 14, 2016

Coliform Positive Sample in Well Water Results in Product Recall

A PA meat establishment is recalling pork products after inspectors found the facility's water test results had been positive for coliform bacteria.  These test results would classify the water as non-potable.

While the risk is probably low to non-existent (the fresh pork itself would have coliforms), the water used to make that product is deemed as non-potable.  While the presence of coliforms in themselves are not a hazard, their presence could indicate that other pathogenic bacteria could be present.  More importantly, their presence could indicate that  a contamination pathway could exist linking the water supply to a contamination source - surface water, septic system, animal waste, etc.

Corrective action needs to be taken immediately upon these types of results. This is normally done by dosing or shocking the well with chlorine. or even better for protecting a business is continuous disinfection.
 
FSIS News Release
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/FSIS-Content/internet/main/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2016/recall-082-2016-release
Bunge's Meats Recalls Pork Products Formulated With Water That Did Not EPA Meet Drinking Water Standards
Class I Recall 082-2016
Health Risk: High Sep 16, 2016 

FDA Issues Warning Letter to RTE Facility with LM Issues

FDA issued a warning letter to a Saranac Foods for an inspection completed in February.  We have seen a number of similar types of Warning letters issued.  In this one, inspectors found LM in a facility making RTE product, and  then conditions that would support the spread of that organism (issues with hose usage, condensation, and airflow).  While the company did respond, the response was lacking in terms of a 'complete' corrective action.

 

Listeria

FDA found 3 of 89 samples positive for Listeria monocytogenes. all non-contact but in the ready-to-eat pasta and deli salad production room.

1. Floor near food carts and the 2-compartment sink;
2. The floor alongside of the interior legs of stand mixer;
3. An area of the floor under the 1-compartment sink where a leak is present.

Although the company took corrective action, the FDA stated: FDA is unable to evaluate the adequacy of your response because it does not provide specific details of your corrective actions and steps taken to prevent contamination of food. 

  

GMP Issues

Hepatitis A in Frozen Strawberries Infects 89 People

CDC reported that 89 people contracted Hepatitis A from frozen strawberries.  The outbreak was initially reported two weeks by the Virginia Department of Health.  In most all cases, the infections were linked to the strawberries being served in smoothie drinks served by Tropical Smoothie Café.

Smoothies, the blending of fruits and vegetables into a nutritious yet tasty beverage, can be an issue if any of the fruit and vegetable ingredients harbor pathogenic bacteria.  The risk can be made worse if the smoothie product is temperature abused.  The hard part when buying from a commercial smoothie producer is knowing where they source their ingredients.  In the past, had been an issue pomegranate sourced from the middle east.  That too was a source of Hepatitis A.
 

CDC Outbreak
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/outbreaks/2016/hav-strawberries.htm
August 2016 - Multistate outbreak of hepatitis A linked to frozen strawberries
Posted September 8, 2016 10:15 AM ET

At a Glance

Case Count: 89

States: 7

Deaths: 0

Hospitalizations: 39

The Rise of the Grocerant and Addressing Food Safety Issues

An article in the Wall Street Journal addresses the food safety issues for grocers that are moving into more sophisticated prepared meals to-go.  These hybrid operations, dubbed 'grocerants' by some, are both grocery store and restaurant.  As consumers demand more of these fresh ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat offerings, store operations will  have to address the food safety challenges that comes with these types of processes.

According to the graphic in the article, sushi and soups are currently the type two types of foods.  But there is an increase in operations making more complex meals.
Here are some of the challenges:

Who Knew This Poop - The Dangers of Raccoon Feces

In this edition of MMWR, we learn that raccoon feces can be a source of a particularly dangerous roundworm - Baylisascaris procyonis.  It can lead to severe neurologic issues, including blindness, or even death if it is not treated rapidly.

The worm's eggs are passed in raccoon feces and can remain infectious for  months.  People, including children, become infected when soil or materials contaminated with raccoon poop containing the eggs are accidently ingested, such as when children stick their fingers in their mouths after playing with little logs in the dirt.

There have not been many cases of this in the US, but this is some serious poop.  Who the heck wants to go blind from raccoon infested poop?    So if you have raccoons scurrying around your yard at night, perhaps they found that special spot to use as a latrine (aka potty), then time to take some corrective action.  A number of websites offer solutions to rid your homestead of that pesky worm-ridden procyonid .  And sure, some of those solutions may work, but this is what you really need - the Black and Tan Coon Hound.

Might just need to get one as a preventive control...an environmental preventive control.  (That's  FSPCA, not SPCA).  So one of the best dogs known to man or blindness?..I think that is an easy choice.

CDC MMWR
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6535a2.htm?s_cid=mm6535a2_e
Raccoon Roundworm Infection Associated with Central Nervous System Disease and Ocular Disease — Six States, 2013–2015